TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A Kansas Senate budget subcommittee has rejected a proposal to spend $2 million for a new institute at the University of Kansas to work with pharmaceutical companies on new drugs and technologies.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the subcommittee’s action Monday led Democratic Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka to accuse Republican subcommittee Chairman Tom Arpke of Salina of having a personal vendetta against the university.

Arpke denied it and said the university would be seeing much larger cuts in spending if its budget were tied to its declining enrollment.

He and Republican Sen. Steve Abrams of Arkansas City voted to put the $2 million toward scholarships, mostly for students at private colleges.

The full Senate budget committee is expected to review the subcommittee’s action Wednesday.